Longhorns say F Papapetrou turns pro in Greece

The Longhorns confirmed Tuesday that sophomore forward Ioannis (yoh-AH'-nihs) Papapetrou (pah-pah-PEH'-troh) has signed with Greek professional club Olympiacos. Olympiacos says it signed Papapetrou to a five-year contract.

In a statement, Longhorns coach Rick Barnes said the teams and its fans "need to be happy for Papi and his family."

Papapetrou is an Athens native who would have been Texas' top returning scorer next season. He recently played for the Greece national team in the under-20 European championships.

Losing Papapetrou means Texas will be without its top four scorers from last season's team that finished 16-18, the program's first losing season in 15 years. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 8.3 points as a freshman.